Ty watched the Ruling Council’s engineer climb out of the tunnel. He dusted off his jeans and smiled at Ty. “It looks like they built this place to last. The tunnel is fine. The house? Not so much. But there’s a difference between the fire and the mostly wood structure of the packhouse. They cut the tunnels from stone and the fire wouldn’t affect them because it didn’t get hot enough if it had gotten down there. The fire didn’t go down there though, so it’s all a moot point. There are rooms down there on either side of the tunnel, but without a way to open the doors, I can’t tell you if they’re safe. Also, before you ask, I didn’t even hear a rat move down there. So, if there are people down there, they stayed silent. I’ll state my reputation by saying the tunnel is safe as far as I got. But it appears to go on for quite some time. The rooms off the sides are an unknown.” “What do you think they made them for? What was their purpose?” Ty hadn’t found anyone that was awar
Mikey didn’t enjoy being away from the packhouse and his control room. But he couldn’t work the drone or much else from that distance. Now he needed to come up with lights and cameras. What was this a movie production? “I have my phone and if it gets full, there’s always the cloud as backup, but we’ll have to take a break while I back things up properly.” Ty grunted and nodded, already distracted by something else. He had too many things on his plate, in Mikey’s opinion. Everything was just dragging them down and teasing them. The chance of a better life was right here in this town, but it was holding them back from immersing themselves in that new future. He wanted to settle down with his mates and live the life they wanted peacefully. Finally, a vehicle with everything he wanted from their place arrived and was offloaded. There was everything and a little bit more included. The small group trudged into the tunnel. The opening of the t
Rose took the information with her to the tour where the Hollow Wood Pack members were sheltering after fleeing Jack’s control.What she found wasn’t just people who could put names to the descriptions she’d developed, but someone located several photographs of them, as well. Most were photographs of these wolves caught in the background of a family photo that was being taken innocently. The wolves probably didn’t even know they took the photos. It was something extra that she could use.Another thing Rose learned about these wolves was they weren’t part of the pack proper. She knew they’d joined the pack over time, but she’d not realized her father kept these wolves separate from the rest of the pack. He treated these new wolves like they were the elite.Russell had met these wolves during his travels and partying. Rose now understood he was giving a home to like-minded wolves to himself. In other words, monsters he could talk to about the horrible things he liked to do.It ma
The tunnel went on for quite some time, however; they didn’t find it’s end. There were other doors and Ty decided not to open them until later, after they found out how far the tunnels went. The problem was that the tunnels now branched and continued. He wouldn’t be surprised if they’d walked several miles already. It was a wonder that no one found these tunnels when they built anything above ground. He did not know where these tunnels went or ended. But if Jack used these tunnels to escape, Ty would follow them. Since there were footprints in the gray dust on the floor, it made sense to follow them. Jack, probably in his haste to escape and abandon the pack to whatever or whoever did this, didn’t think about the tracks he left behind. There were a lot of them, and they all followed the same route. “We need to turn back; my phone’s memory is full. I need to get out of here to save the files, and we might want to eat while we’re at it.” Eat, rest, and
Heather found Mikey dusting himself off and teasingly helped him lose some of the gray dust. “I can’t believe how much dust is down there. I can’t tell where it’s coming from.” Mikey said, laughing, a little embarrassed and overwhelmed by the time it took to get the dust off. “Did you find anything down there?” Heather tried to get information from the others around, but no one knew what was down there. “Nothing but old prison cells and rotting supplies.” Mikey straightened and looked a little disappointed as he told her this. “Prison cells? This place only ever had to jail cells in the basement as far as I knew.” Heather was confused by his answer. It didn’t make sense; those cells didn’t exist as far as she knew and who would have found themselves imprisoned in them? That worried her more. All this dust didn’t make sense either. “Yeah, well, that wasn’t quite true. We’ve opened five now and the team that went down now gets to open more when they ge
“Ty, are you sure we can’t go down there with you? I doubt very much that Jack is still wandering around those tunnels or any of the wolves that left with him.” Rose implored Ty to go into the tunnels. She found that her curiosity and imagination were running rampant. There were more questions than answers right now, and time was ticking away. They needed answers right away. It took over an hour to feed everyone and get them back to work. They didn’t have enough volunteers to have real shifts for the people. The darkness after the sun went down would force them to stop working and start again once the sun rose. The damage to the packhouse and surrounding area without the tunnels was too dangerous to work in the dark. “Honey, no. I wouldn’t be able to do what I need to if you were down there. I’d be worried about you and your safety. We think it’s safe, but we aren’t completely sure as we go further down in the tunnel.” They all knew what Ty said was true, b
Heath didn’t know how he’d approach Ty on this matter. Amber was Ty’s blood relation, and he’d done things with her that still unnerved him.She busied herself with planning their future. While he struggled with their here and now. What did he know about her or the community? Her father would have some kind of say in this. Ty might very well have a say too.Heath didn’t know where he’d stand with either Alpha. After all, he barely held anything but a minimum rank as a pack enforcer. When it came to this rank, he wasn’t much more important than a human mall cop.His words went unheeded by Amber and all Rose said on the subject was that Amber’s response was not surprising in the least. So, he sat there with Amber chattering away to him as he ate, and he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach making his meal sit heavy.“Amber, you don’t know me. What would you do if this mating went forward, and you found out that we had nothing in common? Or despised each other? For all you know,
He was about to enter the tunnel when his phone rang. “Hold it everyone. I must get this. It’s the town hall’s office number. I must take this. It’s probably something wrong with the paperwork.” It would be just his luck that they rejected his application for some obscure reason in the bit to be the town protector. “Hello?” “Alpha Randell. I’m so happy to have reached you. It’s Kelly Long over at town hall.” Ty knew exactly who she was. Kelly was a member of the Blue Dalia Pack, and they knew each other growing up. She worked as a clerk in the town hall’s office. Her job was to manage all the official paperwork for the town. “Hey, Kelly, what’s wrong? Do I need to put out a fire or two?” “Well, that’s what I’m calling you about. There’s no fire at all. Well, except that the time’s passed for submissions for the position of town protector and there were only two applicants. You and Jack were the only two.” Kelly’s voice hinted at what everyone knew already.
- 2 years later– “Hey that’s enough, you guys. If you don’t settle down, someone is going to get clawed and we’ll need to get Heather over here to patch you up. Then you won’t be able to go swimming until it heals. Do you want to sit in the bank while everyone else swims?” Frowned as she chastised several young pups and their poppas. The pack had grown in recent years, and they had a few pups to keep everyone on their toes. Gone were the days of beer on the patio and loud music at all hours of the night. They now had a second extension on the packhouse, and this included a large space to pack all the pups for naps and such. It wasn’t something that happened for humans, but in a pack; it was common for pups to bond with other pack close to their age. Growing up together, they either loved or hated each other. There wasn’t a third option, and sometimes the pups could vacillate between love and hate. But they were always pack. Rose’s boys were the eldest of th
Rose clutched Ty’s hand nervously as they entered the private restaurant. This place was for the elite of the shifter world, and it turned out to be run by Rose’s biologist father. This would be the first time they’d met. They talked on the phone, and that’s all. It had been hard for him. Because no one ever breathed the word about Lily, Rose’s mother’s death, or the fact that Rose existed. Lily was supposed to meet him once he got settled, but he couldn’t contact her after that. She wouldn’t or couldn’t take his calls. He couldn’t go back, not after what happened between Russell, Ethan, and himself. They’d gotten into a fight that now, years later, Alec suspected, was instigated by Russell. Lily had mated with Alec before Russell got his hands on her. But Alec insisted he knew nothing about Rose’s existence. He’d always held out hope that Lily lived and was happy. Now it saddened him to know how mistreated she’d been. Alec was the one that broke the
Jack could feel Russell’s fist pounding on the inside of his mind. He couldn’t sleep anymore. If he did the Russell would take the wheel of Jack’s body. Jack was fine living the rest of his existence in a quiet cell alone. Russell wanted out. He wanted to burn the world as they knew it for his death and punishment. Russell also didn’t want to share Jack’s body. He wanted to own it. Russell wanted Jack to go permanently. Russell wanted to start by burning the prison and he wouldn’t hear that it would not be possible. The mages saw to that. Russell wanted to kill everyone around them. No, not just kill. He wanted to rape, tear, and mangle every single one. Jack witnessed every single gory image Russell shared with him. Even when he didn’t want to see it. Jack hated his life and the surrounding people. Sure, he did as Russell ordered for years, and sometimes he had fun with it. But Russell never showed him this side of him. If there was a monster in th
Ty received a text message from Rose as his truck rolled into town that morning. She asked him to pick up a package from the post office they wouldn’t deliver. This happened when the package was larger. He didn’t think much about it until the afternoon when he got to the post office and found it wasn’t one package. But several large packages. Along with the packages was a note for him to stop at the hardware store in town and pick up something there. Now Ty didn’t know what to make of this. It wasn’t something Rose did often. So Ty indulged her. At the hardware store, he found the order was for paint and supplies. He wasn’t sure what she planned to do or what room this was for. Then he was handed another note. This one had him going to the pharmacy and the grocery store to pick up things there, too. This was taking a while, and he was running out of the room in the back of the truck. Now he understood why she insisted he took it. But he didn’t think it was any
Amber hadn’t learned a single lesson about what Heath wanted in life and she didn’t seem to care that Heath wasn’t happy.No, Heath knew he just wasn’t unhappy. He was miserable. Was this the fate he was dealt or was it entirely a mistake? Did he want a mate so badly that he took the first she-wolf that might be compatible? Was she even compatible? Heath didn’t know.With everyone around him so busy with all the changes and the work to fix things. It was difficult for him to find anyone to be a sane and good sounding board for him.That and he was embarrassed to mention how badly it was going between them. How did fate give him someone so controlling and selfish? She’s jealous of everything her friends have in their mates. Did she settle for him to feel like she was part of the group? Heath hated to think that way, but it was clear now that was what was happening, and he was a little sad.Deep down, he wanted it to work out, and they’d live a charmed life. But nothing seemed right for
The fact that Bill arranged a ride to the healing centre the very next day, much too many people’s surprise. Mikey and Heather both worried he’d hold a grudge against Michael for competing with him and winning Mae. But when Bill realized Mae had a change of heart about accepting the rejection of their triad relationship. She’d been kidnapped and unable to communicate with anyone. That this was all complicated by external circumstances they couldn’t have controlled. Bill only wanted to know if it was too late for them to try again. Michael, on the other hand, crumbled at the sight of his other mate, leaving everyone stunned. He clung to Bill once he finished stating his interest in exploring the possibility of them exploring their relationship and bond. Mae’s healer had several questions and the three later sat down with the healer. He wanted to know several things. There were tests he wanted to perform. But he needed samples from all three. There was new research on the
Mikey and Jay finally finished up with their efforts and, with the results in hand, returned to the pack. Excited to tell everyone the news of what they’d found and achieved.When they got back to the healing center, Heather was there with her parents and all three faces looked hopefully toward the two wolves. Mikey had to admit, he felt like he was a conquering hero coming back from the war with a chest full of medals.Jay looked pretty much how Mikey felt, so he figured Jay felt just as successful as he did.Heather stood up from the chair she sat in and came forward to greet them. Once she was done hugging them and grabbing a kiss from each, her manner sobered. “So… What happened? What did you find out about my other father?”“First, we found him. Second, no, he didn’t find a second chance mate. Third, he is living and working at the rehabilitation facility. Fourth, he wants to meet with all of you to find out if there’s a future with you. Fifth, he wants me to call him with a date
“Yes, yes. I see. I can contact my clients right away and set something up with them.” Mikey’s grin broadened as he spoke sporadically between listening to the doctor. “He may have to go to them if he can. She’s not been cleared to leave the healing centre and it may be a while yet.” Again, he listened. “I’ll get right on it. Thank you and have a nice day. I’ll call and I’ll arrange a time and date for their first meeting.” He disconnected the call and his smile lit up the room with how excited he’d become with the outcome of that call. “He wants to meet with them and talk. Bill also wants to meet Heather and us. It’s looking good for this.” “I can’t wait to see Heather’s face and Mae will be over the moon about having both her mates. You know, I don’t think I could have chosen between you and Heather. I’d have felt like there was someone missing in my life all the time.” Jay could help with it. This was the best outcome they could have received and now it just kept gett
Mikey sent the photos and left his number so that the Alpha could decide on what he would do about this situation. That was the best Mikey could do. This wasn’t his problem to decide on. All he could do was think of everyone’s feelings about the matter as he followed the information. He’d barely had a moment to fill Jay in on the news and no time to discuss what that could mean for them. When Jay jumped out of his skin when Mikey’s phone rang in his hand. Mikey snatched it from Jay before he could accidentally drop it. “Go grab us something to eat. I’ll try to work my magic on this doctor.” Jay frowned. He wanted to be there for the talk. He didn’t want to hear about it second or third hand. “You suck love.” But he was hungry, and they’d not eaten today before they started all of this. So, Jay left, slamming the motel room door behind him in a huff. Mikey would make it up to him. But Mikey didn’t want to have to deal with his disappointment if this w